Honeywell HCM-6011i QuietCare 11-Gallon Console Humidifier with Air Washing Technology
by Honeywell
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List Price: Category: Home See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Honeywell HCM-6011i QuietCare 11-Gallon Console Humidifier with Air Washing Technology
Customer Review: Mixed reviews
Summary: 3 Stars
The good:
This humidifier works really well at raising the humidity level in a house quickly. We have always struggled to reach even 25-30% humidity during the winter months. This unit, even on low, quickly raised the humidity in the house to an acceptable level. In terms of fan speed, I find the two lower settings to both be decent in terms of noise level. No complaints with the noise level. We tend to run the system on the lowest setting, but even the second setting is tolerable in our family room where we watch TV. Our filters last about 6 weeks under constant use, before starting to develop a slight moldy smell. That is based on soaking the filter once a week, versus every time the tanks need refilled, as indicated in the maintenance instructions.
The bad:
The two water tanks do not drain simultaneously. The second tank remains full until the first one is empty. As others have noted, the water tanks do not sit in the base housing such that both tanks can drain as needed. It seems to be a poor design, as the second unit regularly fails to start draining when the first one is empty. Instead, the unit just shuts off as if it is out of water. This happens probably 6 out of 7 days a week, so I end up having to check the unit every morning and evening and reseating the second tank to get the unit running again.
Were it not for this frustrating issue, I probably would have given the humidifier a 5 star rating, but it is very irritating to have the unit routinely shut off when the second tank is full. A humidifier that isn't running isn't very effective.
Customer Review: Solved Filter Problem
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this unit three years ago. I love the output yet hated how quickly the filter mildewed. I tried various methods to reduce mildew smell/mold. I added bleach to the water. I hung the filter out to dry. I prayed to the humidifier (didn't work).
Solution: This year I bypassed the float/interlock that shuts the unit off when the tanks empty. Now the fan runs continuously thereby drying the filter BEFORE mold and mildew begin to grow. When I first bought the unit the filter would turn yellow and smell within a week. NOW it lasts for over a month (two months with cleaning).
How: I taped a small rectangular piece of rigid plastic (cut from a hotel key-card) to the top of the float mechanism which keeps the micro-switch closed regardless of the water level. Thus, when both tanks are empty the fan keeps running and the entire unit (to include the FILTER) dries out vs sitting stagnant in a pool of water for mold, mildew, and bacteria to thrive. There is an old biology saying referring to bacteria: "If it dries it dies".
I leave my fan setting on LOW and the humidifier setting on MAX all day every day (24/7) during the winter months. I allow the unit to completely dry out three times per week (simply remove the tanks if they are not empty and let the fan run on low). My house humidity remains around 34% and would be totally dry (5%) if not for this unit.
Con: I can't place it in my bedroom due to the "bloop-bloop-bloop" sound caused by air bubbles when a tank is releasing water into the reservoir.
Customer Review: So far, so good.
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this humidifier to replace one that I oh so gracefully dropped the tank down the stairs and cracked it. When I went looking, I wanted to buy something that didn't have the problems that the old one did namely annoying boiling noises and constant refilling. So I saw 11 gallons and thought great - no constant refilling! And since it's not a warm mist variety - no boiling noises.
After having run it for a while now I'm very satisfied with the noise level with the fan set on low - I can easily sleep with it in my bedroom. The refilling, however, is not at all what I expected. This thing can really crank out the moisture so if you have it on high you will be refilling it every day or so. It will also humidify the entire floor of my house very nicely which was a major bonus. I've been running it for about 45 days now and haven't had any problems with the filter getting moldy although I do have one of the water cartridges in it.
Pros and cons are that although it works really well for larger spaces, you still need to refill frequently unless you leave it on low all the time. No moldy filter problems but refilling the tanks is somewhat of a pain - I wouldn't want to have arthritis and have to refill these tanks. I've developed the habit of checking the tanks every day or two and refilling whichever tank is empty rather than waiting to have to do both of them at once.
All in all it works very well but keeping up with it is not quite as easy as one would hope for. So far so good.
Customer Review: Good humidifier, does what it says
Summary: 4 Stars
I just got my humidifier yesterday. I set it up and started it up last night in my fairly large living room that is always bone dry. By this morning it was out of water and the room was significantly more humid. I would note that even on the lowest level, the unit makes a distinct hum. At low and medium, there is not much air noise but a significant amount of air is still being pushed. At high, the air noise becomes very noticable, but it sure pushes a lot of water out.
The separate water tanks are a mixed blessing. Apparently it uses one up before it goes to the other, so if you were filling them quickly, you may only have to fill one. But it goes through water so fast that it seems unlikely you'd ever need to just fill one. When you have to fill both, it requires two trips to fill it. I guess it would get heavy to carry one big tank, but I think I'd prefer it.
Also, the unit is large. I wasn't quite prepared for how large it is. Looking at it, I'm not sure how they could have made it smaller and still have it do the same job.. but it is quite big.
EDIT: I'd also like to say that I just filled both tanks in my sink setting them both upside down on their tops while filling and they didn't fall over. They weren't particularly stable, but they didn't fall over and I filled both and carried them both back to the unit (the seals at the bottom held while I carried them back right-side-up) without incident. Just as a response to everyone who has complained about that.
Customer Review: better than I thought from reviews
Summary: 4 Stars
After serious online shopping, I reluctantly selected this unit. I read some very negative reviews and expected a marginal quality unit at best. After 1 week my comments include:
1) no problem filling - tanks sit upside down resting on the edge of the sink -- I don't have to hold them while filling.
2) no problem carrying - the handle will support a full tank, but I carry with a hand supporting the bottom, as recommended.
3) never had a problem with tanks not emptying. The unit runs until both tanks are empty -- perhaps this has been fixed
4) definitely not whisper quiet -- at any speed, the unit has a rather annoying hum coming from the motor. It would be unacceptable in the bedroom, in the family room with the pellet stove going, it is unnoticed. Not sure if this is normal or not -- but not a problem for my use.
5) Didn't have a problem in seating the tanks - there are three main parts - tank 1, tank 2, motor/fan housing that fit on the bottom housing. Not difficult to align.
5) high speed is loud, but not annoyingly so -- it really puts water into the air at that speed.
6) Do not have mold problem (yet ?). Am using pro-tec cartridge that came with the unit -- there is a special indentation to hold it. Supposed to last a month or so.
7) not an interior decorating masterpiece, but doesn't look too bad in the family room. It is bigger than I had mentally pictured.
I am amazed at how much difference the additional humidity makes in the comfort of the house.